News briefs

April 17, 2013

Naperville

Park district starts hotline

The Naperville Park District has started a Rainout Line to let people know about cancellations due to the weather. The line can be accessed in five ways — by calling 630-883-4242, seeing napervilleparks.org/cancellations, opting in to receive email updates, opting in to receive text updates or downloading the free smart phone app.

Garden plots' opening delayed

Opening of the Naperville Park District's garden plots has been delayed a week due to rainy and cool weather. The plots at 811 S. West St. will now open April 27, weather permitting. To check the availability of garden plots, call 630-848-5000.

Parks officials to be sworn in

Four Naperville Park District commissioners will serve additional four-year terms after running unopposed in the April 9 election. Bill Eagan, Gerry Heide, Mike Reilly and Kirsten Young will keep their seats. They will be sworn in at the May 9 meeting, which will be held at City Hall, 400 S. Eagle St. The remaining commissioners will be up for re-election in 2015.

Gas work closes path

Portions of the Illinois Prairie Path will be closed through October to facilitate Nicor Gas maintenance work. The Batavia Spur and the Aurora Branch of the Prairie Path, which are both located on or near Nicor Gas property, will close as the company upgrades its gas delivery system. A detour will be available by utilizing Ferry and Eola roads. Details of the detour can be found on the county's trails web page at dupageco.org/EDP/Bikeways_and_Trails/32496.

Driving range gets new name

The Naperville Park District has finalized its decision to name the driving range at Naperbrook Golf Course the Glen Ekey Driving Range, after its longtime director. Ekey was at the helm from 1981 to 1996 during a period of rapid growth in the community and helped the district purchase much of the current park land. There will be a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. May 18 at the golf course.

Naper Settlement adds tours

Naper Settlement is introducing cell phone tours of its grounds and historic sites around Naperville. The tours can be accessed by dialing 630-300-0603 or through the web address myoncell.mobi/16303000603. The content is also available through Google's new Field Trip app for Android and Apple devices. Tour material is free, though minutes and data charges from the carrier may apply.

Residents respond to recycling efforts

The Naperville Park District collected 429 pairs of shoes and 14 single shoes from its first gym shoe collection at Players Indoor Sports Center this winter. The clean, wearable shoes will be donated to charity, while the rest will go to Nike's Reuse a Shoe program, to be used for tennis courts, gym floors, track surfaces and playground surfaces. In a separate initiative, the district also helped residents recycle holiday lights and collected 1,392 pounds of the nonworking decor. Elgin Recycling paid the district $208.80for the lights. The money will be used for future environmental initiatives this year.

Lisle

Improvements scheduled

The village of Lisle will be taking advantage of some federal and state funding to complete some infrastructure projects in coming months. The village will use $108,000 in funding from the federal Surface Transportation Program to construct new sidewalks along the north side of Ogden Avenue between Yackley and Schwartz avenues. The village will have to pay a $54,000 portion of the cost plus $20,000 to $30,000 in engineering costs, officials said. The three-block-long sidewalk project is to be completed this summer.

Signal upgrades slated

Lisle will be upgrading traffic signals along Illinois Routes 34 and 53. The Illinois Department of Transportation will pay 90 percent of the cost to convert the signals at 16 intersections to LED technology and add battery backup systems. The work will be completed during June. Public Works Director Jason Elias said Lisle's share of the traffic signal project cost is $12,551, which includes construction and engineering.

Lighting adds options

Lisle park district officials say more recreational opportunities will be available this fall with the addition of new lighting at Community Park. The Village Board recently approved the $110,000 project that will illuminate ball field No. 2 and other areas at the park, at 1825 Short St. Four 60-foot lighting poles will be strategically placed.